As you may or may not know, here at UniversalExams.com we offer our ISEB and ISTQB self-study training packages in 3 different formats – immediate download, CD set, or printed & bound full color documents (along with a CD set for those courses that come with audio files, such as ISEB Foundation, ISTQB Foundation, and ISEB Intermediate).

Obviously, the first option enables immediate access, as the student can download the ISEB or ISTQB materials immediately after purchase. The other 2 formats require physical shipping, and we charge a flat rate of £30 for this. Since we receive many questions regarding our shipping policies, I thought this would make an excellent topic for this week’s blog post.

First and foremost, we ship all packages via USPS Express Airmail, and every customer receives an email with the tracking details once shipped. Delivery transit times usually approximate 5-7 days. The precise timeframe really depends on local customs procedures and other factors that tend to vary by country, but 5-7 days is about average. We aim to ship all orders within 1-2 business days, so generally your package will arrive within 10 days of the order date.

Regarding the actual packaging, everything is shipped exactly the same way, no matter if it’s the ISEB Foundation, ISEB Intermediate, ISEB Practitioner, ISTQB Foundation, or ISTQB Advanced course. We ship all products in plain brown boxes with no company branding, and our boxes are packaged with recycled materials to keep the enclosed items safe in transit.

We do this because we do not wish to attract any unnecessary attention to our packaging. To do otherwise might tempt unscrupulous postal workers to succumb to their curiosity and peek inside the box. This is not a risk worth taking…we feel it is much safer to use unbranded packaging that flies beneath the radar.

Finally, we do our best to help our customers avoid added customs fees, import taxes, and other costs sometimes associated with international shipments. Depending on the specific ISEB or ISTQB product, we mark each package as either “gift” or “commercial sample.” Doing this ensures that our customers do not get surprised by additional costs levied by their country’s postal service.

So there you have it, a complete shipping FAQ summarized in a 1-page article. Whether you are pursuing your ISEB Foundation, ISEB Intermediate, ISEB Practitioner, ISTQB Foundation, or ISTQB Advanced certification, you can rest assured that if you choose a format requiring a physical delivery, your package will arrive in a safe and timely manner.